Young designers Mailys Baerg and Rebecca Oswald have been selected to exhibit their work at the Melbourne Museum for the Top Designs 2011 exhibition.

Mailys and Rebecca, who completed their VCE at Oxley College last year, are two of 108 Victorian students selected to display their works as part of the VCE exhibition. Their entries comprised work completed as part of year 12 visual communication and design classes.

Mailys, who dreams of becoming an architect after starting her studies at Melbourne University this year, also featured alongside Rebecca’s work at a Mooroolbark Community Centre VCE exhibition this month.

Mailys said she was inspired by architecture as she travelled as a child. ‘‘I just love designing,’’ she said. ‘‘I was designing and building houses since I was really little. I loved Lego as a kid.

‘‘I like old architecture, and modern architecture and where it is going.’’

Mailys spent 13 years growing up in Africa, falling in love with and finding inspiration within its unremitting patterns.

Her display at the Yarra Ranges VCE exhibition in Mooroolbark is testament to this, displaying a compilation of all the patterns she had created over a year.

‘‘You see patterns wherever you go in Africa,’’ Mailys said

Top Designs showcases the works of some of Victoria’s most exceptional emerging designers, featuring 122 of their works.

It is at the Melbourne Museum until June 26.

** The article above was published in the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader, March 29th 2011. Reporter: Alex Munro. Photography: Jane Ollerenshaw